Schaubroeck was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2011, the year she turned 40.

Denise Bonura/The Record Herald

Having strong faith in God can help you overcome almost anything.Tina (Sanchez) Schaubroeck, music teacher at Mowrey Elementary School, knows this first-hand.

Schaubroeck was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2011, the year she turned 40.

“I was totally blindsided,” she said. “I had my annual exam, and the doctor felt I should schedule a mammogram. I had no concerns and I had felt no lumps. It was just a routine test.”

Schaubroeck said her doctor called a few days later and requested a biopsy of a lump found in her left breast. She was then diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma.

“I had no symptoms, I never had any pain. The doctor said it would have been considerably easy to miss even though it was fairly large,” she said. “I don’t have a strong family history of breast cancer, and I don’t possess a mutant gene that can cause me to develop breast cancer at a younger age. I don’t really fit into any of the high risk categories.”

Her treatment

Schaubroeck, a 1989 graduate of Greencastle-Antrim High School, underwent chemotherapy from January to April 2012. Her cancer was considered to be in stage 3 after she had surgery to remove the lump because it had spread to some lymph nodes. She said luckily, it did not spread to any other part of her body.

Schaubroeck explained Dr. Mahinur H. Khan, her oncologist at Summit Cancer and Hematology Services, wanted her to undergo chemotherapy to shrink the tumor before she had surgery with Dr. Mark Roth of Summit Surgical Group.

“I was completely prepared to have surgery to remove the breast,” Schaubroeck said. “But they are trying to preserve the breast in younger women with cancer.”

Schaubroeck underwent her first surgery in May 2012 to remove the lump, surrounding tissue and lymph nodes. However, her margins of healthy tissue weren’t clear, and Roth opted to perform a second surgery in June 2012 to remove more tissue and lymph nodes.

Schaubroeck suffered a setback when she just wasn’t healing from the second surgery.

“I had to have a wound vac on me at all times to help the wound heal rapidly,” she explained.

She was finally able to undergo seven weeks of radiation starting in September 2012. A PET scan last Thursday showed Schaubroeck is clear of cancer. She will have a mammogram done every six months along with routine doctor visits. She will also take an estrogen blocker every day for the next 10 years to help prevent recurrence.

“I was very fortunate to have all of the health care here locally,” she said. “Everyone at every office was very professional and very supportive. I have not regretted staying in the area for treatment, and I am very pleased with the results.”

She encourages all women to get mammograms once they turn 40.

Support system

Schaubroeck, a member of Macedonia United Brethren Church in Greencastle, maintained a positive attitude during her diagnosis and treatment. She credited her faith in God with helping her through the worst times.

“I kept a medical journal during my treatment, and I also wrote Scriptures in there to help lift my spirits,” she said. “I would sit in the waiting room and just read Scriptures to help me get through. One thing that helped me a lot besides my faith is people showed me lots of Scriptures. That was my rock.”

She added she had a very large support system that always encouraged her when she needed it the most. Her family — including husband Jason, sons, James, 16, and Jacob, 13, parents, Phil and Deanna Sanchez of Greencastle, and sister, Tammy Smith of Virginia — was just the tip of the iceberg. Her best friend is a five-year cancer survivor, and “always knew what to tell me to make me feel better,” she added.

Schaubroeck’s older sister was diagnosed with a rare cancer four months before she was, and the two went through treatment together.

“It was good for us because we could share, even though our cancers and chemo were very different,” she noted.

Her church, family and friends cooked meals for her family, and helped clean their Montgomery Township home.

Once her students and the staff at Mowrey learned the news, Schaubroeck said she was showered with cards and little gifts.

“People kept telling me how much of a positive attitude I had, but I think there were a lot of people that didn’t let me get down. Every time I left my desk, when I returned something was left there. Or I would find words of encouragement in my mailbox (at school),” she said.

A normal life

Schaubroeck never let her diagnosis or treatment keep her from living her life.

“My doctor thought it would be best if I kept working and I’m glad I did,” she said. “I hardly missed any school. Working with the kids and music helped to lift my spirits. I think my doctor was very wise to encourage me to continue to work. I know everyone can’t do that, but I was fortunate enough to be able to.

“One thing that really helped me is that I’m a mom, and my kids needed me to be their mom more than anything,” she continued through tears. “My son James is involved with track/field and the band, and I didn’t miss any of that even when I wasn’t feeling well.

Keeping up with his schedule helped keep me from getting down.”

Jason Schaubroeck said it was remarkable the way his wife worked through everything.

“She tried to live as normal a life as possible,” he added. “She didn’t let it get her down. For that, she has my respect. I’ve never seen her as a stronger woman.”

Another activity Schaubroeck said she could not give up during treatment was playing piano at her church.

“I knew that was one thing I had to continue to do because that was good for my soul,” she said.

Deanna Sanchez said her daughter was very courageous through her battle with breast cancer.

“I think Tina has ultimately put her trust in God,” she said. “That’s been at the forefront of her thinking. Because she trusts God, she trusts that He has given her the right doctors and the right treatment. One of her favorite scriptures in Jeremiah says, ‘I know the plans I have for you.’ That would include the face that she has never wavered in her responsibility to her family. She never stopped caring about her family, or about the children she teaches. I’ve just seen her be strong through it all.”

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